I didn’t see Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” until it had been out for a while. I went to the dollar theater to see it on the recommendation of a friend and classmate. He and I were both on the staff of the UTSA English Department magazine, “Cactus Alley.” He told me that the dialogue in this film was just too good to miss or wait until it came out on video. So I went to see it on the last week it was in theaters. He was right. It was an English major’s delight.

When I started reviewing DVDs about five years ago, I had occasion to refer to Pulp Fiction in a review. I called it an “English major’s film.” By that, I mean that the dialogue is so vibrant that an English major would regard it as an intellectual smorgasbord; so delicious in its content and delivery that it deserved to savored. That didn’t mean that other people couldn’t enjoy it as well; but that English majors were in for a special treat.

Fifteen years later, and the dialogue is still as fresh and vibrant as it was when I saw it in 1994, especially that of the character Jules (Samuel L. Jackson). Critics talk about how this movie resurrected John Travolta’s career (and so does Travolta, in the BD’s new series of interviews); but it was this film that made me notice the versatility of Jackson for the first time. He’s since gone on to play cops, scientists, superheroes, even a Jedi Knight. But this will always be his signature role for me.

It was also the film that showed that Bruce Willis could play something more than a wise-cracking cop; that he had real acting chops to show. His role as aging boxer Butch Coolidge was cool, but different than anything I’d ever seen from him before.

A brief plot summary: two low-rent hit men, Vincent Vega (Travolta) and Jules Winnfield go out to collect a briefcase containing something valuable to their gangster boss, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). Vincent is also tasked to entertain Marsellus’ wife, Mia (Uma Thurman) while he’s out of town. Wallace has contracted with Butch to throw a boxing match, but Butch decides to bet on himself instead.

That’s a bare bones description, but the delight is in the journey that the characters take.

With the exception of two new sets of interviews made for this release, the BD extras are ones that have been released on the 2002 Collector’s Edition.

“Not the Usual Mindless Boring Getting to Know You Chit Chat”: New (2011) interviews with the cast, to include Jackson, Travolta, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer and Eric Stoltz. A lot of it is expanding on what they say in the (also included) “Pulp Fiction: The Facts” documentary.

“Here Are Some Facts on the Fiction” Critic’s Retrospective: Five film critics that I’ve never heard of sit around and discuss the film. I gave up on them after 10 minutes. Skip them.

Deleted scenes: A few monologues that didn’t make it into the film. Tarantino introduces each one. He likes the scenes, but he tells the viewer that he feels that “Pulp Fiction” is already perfect the way it is and therefore they didn’t need to make a special “director’s cut” by inserting them in the film.

Behind-the-scenes montages

Production design featurette

Siskel and Ebert “At The Movies” – The Tarantino Generation: The two critics took one of their weekly syndicated shows and devoted it to Tarantino and his two films to date: “Reservoir Dogs” and “Pulp Fiction.” Both of them acknowledge that it was quite early to be pronouncing Tarantino as a genius, but they saw a sea change coming on to the way that films would be written and directed in the future. Prophetically, they were right.

Independent Spirit Awards – interviews

Cannes Film Festival – Palm d’Or Acceptance Speech

Charlie Rose Show – Interview with Quentin Tarantino

Theatrical trailers and TV spots

Enhanced trivia track

Stills gallery

Soundtrack chapters

If you have the 2002 Collector’s Edition, I’m not so sure that this is a necessary upgrade. There’s no special effects that require the clarity of BD to enhance the enjoyment of the film. There’s the new set of interviews, but that’s not really enough reason, either. Your call. However, if you have the original bare-bones 1998 DVD release (as I did), then this is a worthwhile upgrade. I’ve already passed on my disc in favor of this one.

Tarantino’s next major project, 1997’s “Jackie Brown,” starring Pam Grier as a flight attendant caught up in a plot between an arms dealer (Jackson) and the police, didn’t thrill me as much as “Pulp Fiction” did, despite its Elmore Leonard pedigree. I still enjoyed the dialogue, but it’s not something that I’ve felt the need to study (watch more than once) like I have with “Pulp Fiction” and “Kill Bill.”

I didn’t have time to watch it or the extras, but here they are:

“Breaking Down Jackie Brown” – Critic’s Retrospective: The same five critics on “Pulp Fiction” take a crack at “Jackie Brown.”

“Jackie Brown: How It Went Down” featurette

Deleted/Alternate Scenes

Chicks With Guns video

Siskel & Ebert “At The Movies” – “Jackie Brown” Review

“Jackie Brown” on MTV

Theatrical trailers, TV spots, radio spots, and poster gallery

Enhanced trivia track

Still galleries

Soundtrack chapters

The price point on both of these is $19.99, and Amazon is offering “Pulp Fiction” for $15.99 and “Jackie Brown” for $10.99. That’s low enough to make me recommend them, even if you already have the Collector’s Editions.